Microsoft Licenses Audio Watermarking Tech

Microsoft said Wednesday that it had licensed its audio watermarking technology to Activated Content in an effort to spur the efforts behind embedding trackable "watermarks" in audio files.

The process of watermarking holds many benefits, as it can potentially be used in the fight against piracy. For example, DRM-less files could carry an identifiable code in them. When these files appear on peer-to-peer networks, labels would be able to identify where they are coming from.

Activated Content appears to have more than just watermarking music files in mind for Microsoft's technology, as it plans to use it in the telephony and advertising industries as well. The company plans to merge its existing proprietary technologies with Microsoft's, the companies said.

"Activated Content can now be in the forefront, providing a digital link in the multibillion-dollar mobile advertising marketplace and enabling aggregators to link advertising and consumers with user-generated content," company CEO Eric Silberstein said in a statement.

Microsoft's technologies were developed in its Research labs, and it said that licensing efforts are part of a broader initiative to make available technologies to companies and startups. Microsoft also believes that making the technologies broadly available will add value to a healthy IT ecosystem and provides new economic opportunities.

Watermarking is not without controversy. Most recently in June Apple was criticized for using the technology in its music files, with the Electronic Frontier Foundation claiming it was a security risk. However, Apple has never given a reason for it although it is speculated it is due to piracy concerns.

At least one pirater has been caught due to this practice. 27 year-old Salvador Nunez Jr. was arrested in February for uploading a copy of "Flushed Away" after watermarking details helped authorities track down the source to his PC.